Evaluation of the use of Home Detention Curfew and the Open Prison Estate in Scotland

Home Detention Curfew (HDC) came into use in Scotland in 2006 and allows prisoners, mainly on shorter sentences, to serve up to a quarter of their sentence (for a maximum of six months and a minimum of two weeks) on licence in the community, while wearing an electronic tag. Open prisons have been in existence much longer, and are facilities without the secure perimeter fences of traditional, ‘closed’ prisons, and allow prisoners to gradually take on the responsibility of freedom through home leaves and other activities.